In Tarrant County, TX, a very far right individual was elected in 2022 to Tarrant County Judge (which isn’t really a judge, just the top elected official for the county) to lead the County Commissioners Court (which is really just like a Mayor and City Council, but for Texas Counties).
After every census, Counties are required to examine the precinct lines in a county to ensure that there is equal groups of people in each area, redrawing lines if the individual precincts have a greater than 10% spread between the smallest and biggest.
In 2021, Tarrant County looked at the Census results and heard feedback from experts on redistricting, and with a Republican majority on the Court, voted to continue the use of the maps that had been set in 2011, after the 2010 Census. You can hear elements from their meeting in 2021 here:
This is the current precinct map for Tarrant County
The current mix of the Commissioners Court are three members who are Republicans, two who are Democrats. The Republicans are Tim O’Hare, the current County Judge, who I mentioned at the top, Manny Ramirez (who represents Precinct 4), and Matt Krause (elected in 2024 to represent Precinct 3). The Democrats are Roderick Miles (who represents Precinct 1) and Alisa Simmons (who represents Precinct 2).
Examining the maps MUST occur every 10 years after a census. Maps MAY be revisited outside of that, but it is a rare occurrence, and is generally only seen if there has been massive growth in a smaller county, created a large imbalance.
As you may have heard in the video, the precincts as of 2020 have a variance of less than 2%. 10% is generally the threshold of where you trigger a need to redraw lines. The population of Tarrant County in the 2020 Census was 2,110,999. The latest estimate from the 2,230,708. That’s 119,709 in growth, a 5.6% increase. That isn’t explosive (but I certainly feel it on my commute).
In April, the Commissioners Court (really the Judge) announced they would be retaining a fairly naked partisan firm to lead a redistricting push. Here is Tim O’Hare talking about it in the April 2nd meeting:
Why now? Commissioner Manny Ramirez says it pretty plainly in a Facebook post:
There is one distinct responsibility of this job that is, in my opinion, very political and that is redistricting. Conservative policies and values continue to make Tarrant County the greatest and most successful county in the nation. I believe that I have a moral obligation to do everything legally permissible to ensure that our county continues to enjoy responsible conservative leadership. ~ County Commissioner Manny Ramirez
So it isn’t about people. It’s about power and politics, holding onto power even when the people you purport to represent are changing. As an example, here is a map of how Tarrant County voted in the 2024 election, by voting precinct. (Remember this in just a moment)
If I put the current Precinct map next to the 2024 election results, you can see there are large blue areas in both Precincts 1 and 2, with smaller areas in 3 and 4. The election outcomes on the court make sense, don’t they?
Here is the plan they have put forth for redistricting:
As I write this on May 3rd, one of the members of the Court (Alisa Simmons) released on Facebook last night the proposed maps. The Commissioners Court will get a briefing on the maps on May 6th. And by June 3rd, the Court plans a vote on the maps, putting them in place for the 2026 elections.
Five proposed maps were shared. They immediately struck me. I’m going to share them with you and help out a little.
That’s the 2024 election results in the upper left, with all five proposed maps. ALL five are packing the Democratic voting areas into a common district. Precinct 2, which is represented by a Democrat, will be on the ballot in the 2026 election. They are doing a mid-cycle re-drawing of the maps to ENSURE that a Republican will win the seat, resulting in a 4-1 partisan lean on the court. So even if Tarrant County decides to elect a Democrat for County Judge in 2026 (as Tim O’Hare is up for re-election), the Court will maintain the 3-2 advantage under Republican control through at least the next required re-districting after the 2030 Census.
This is a naked partisan power grab, and I hope the people of Tarrant County will show up, make noise, and let these elected officials (who are motivated by Christian nationalist ideology and it’s desire to impose one version of religion on all and control the levers of power to make it happen) know that this is NOT ok.
The reality is they have the votes to force this upon the County. But we should not surrender in advance, ceding control without fighting back.
The next commissioners court meeting is on May 6th. You can register to raise your voice at the meeting or present written comment via this form. On the Agenda, it is listed as:
XII. Briefing
A. Tarrant County Redistricting
I’m trying to make sure as many people as possible See it and Hear it, so shares of this would be so appreciated. We need as many as possible to FIGHT IT!
Not just hoping BUT praying! Praying that all middle to left stop the power grab that these guys are doing.
Praying 🙏🏼 that Bexar county’s mayor stays Blue too. Stressing all day today. 🥲
Politics is a team sport and the blue team is in trouble and needs everyone that cares.